Riley was a few minutes late, but as soon as he sat down with his beer, he demanded to know what was going on with Darius.
“I don’t fucking know.”
“Well, fucking is going on, even I know that.”
“I…”
Riley shook his head. “Please don’t tell me you were back there trying something on for him. His shirt was on backward. You had that man so flustered, he dressed himself improperly. That might be the first time that’s ever happened.”
Marc knew better than to come up with some lame-ass excuse, and he was actually a little bit proud of how much Darius wanted him. “Yeah. I make him fucking crazy.”
Riley smiled. “Good.”
Was it? He was in so deep. The way his chest had tightened when he’d realized Darius made a suit for him. The look on Darius’s face when he’d seen Marc in his creation. There was so much potential between them, but would Darius ever be comfortable enough to fully embrace it? “I probably should insist on an actual relationship with him, but—”
“You should do what you’re comfortable with.”
Initially, the idea of a relationship had seemed far-fetched, but now there were moments like last night when he was sure Darius longed for that as much as he did. But comfortable? No way.
“I’m not at all comfortable. I mean, wow, Darius is amazing, but I don’t want to feel fucked over in the end.” He was scarred from all the times he’d made the wrong decision in the past.
Riley laid a hand on top of his. “I don’t want you to either.”
“And yet I can’t stay away. Darius is so much fun when he’s flustered like he was today. His accent gets stronger and, well…you see my problem.”
“I do. But despite your concerns, you’re going to ask him to the wedding?”
Was he really? Yes. Yes, he was. “I am. He thinks a Central Park wedding is cheesy as fuck, but—”
Riley rolled his eyes. “Of course he does.”
“I think he’s fascinated by the kind of relationship you and Thorne have, and maybe a little jealous.” Marc had wondered about that for weeks, but the way Darius was with him the night before had convinced him.
“Really?”
Marc frowned. “I could be reading it all wrong, but he talks like he picks up ‘boys for tricks.’” Marc attempted to imitate Darius’s accent. “But as far as I can tell, he spends all his time working. I’m not sure he’s doing as much fucking around as I thought.” Or any now, but he still wasn’t ready for Riley to know how intense things had gotten with Darius.
“Mmmm.” That was certainly promising. “Ask him, and tell me what he says, okay?”
“Okay.” They rose and hugged each other.
***
Marc found Darius in the workroom when he returned. “Darius?”
“What now?”
At least he sounded like his usual churlish self. “I want you to come with me.”
“Where?”
Marc hesitated. I can do this. “To Thorne and Riley’s wedding.”
“A not-date as the best man’s plus one?”
At least he didn’t say no right away. “I’m not sure we can sell that. We might have to just tell the truth.”
“That I’d rather stay in the hotel and fuck you than attend their cheesy-arse Central Park ceremony?”
Marc laughed. “You’re welcome to tell them that, but I won’t.”
“Fine. I’ll go.”
“You will?” Marc’s heart was beating so hard, he wondered if he would pass out.
“I suppose I should see my handiwork in action.”
“Right, you definitely should.”
“And I should also be there to keep you busy so you don’t even think about hot, flirty New York boys who’ll just be a disappointment.”
Fuck, Marc was really loving Darius’s possessive streak. “True. Anything can happen in New York City.”
“Of course it can. Now get to work.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Darius paced the workroom, kicking aside scraps and magazines and other clutter from his path. He was at the shop alone, a rare occurrence these days. Marc had the day off—Riley wasn’t having a traditional bachelor’s party, but he and Marc were going to spend the day together, doing some of their favorite things.
Thorne would be there any minute to pick up a new suit he’d ordered for Riley for the honeymoon. Normally, Darius enjoyed seeing Thorne, but today, for the first time, he was nervous.
He was also a little embarrassed, since the last time he’d seen Thorne, Darius’s shirt had been on inside out. But that wasn’t what was worrying him. If he were that much of a skittish fuckwit, he wouldn’t be going to the wedding. Thorne knew what love could do to a person. He’d understand.
Love?
Darius’s heart started to pound, and his chest tightened. He was in love with Marc. He’d sworn he wouldn’t let this happen. Yet somehow he’d known from the first that Marc had the power to break through all his barriers.
His nerves primarily came from his need to talk to Thorne about the buyout offer he’d received. He didn’t intend to take the offer, but he still wanted to know who’d made it. Gary hadn’t had any luck identifying the buyer, and Darius figured Thorne would know someone who could help. But what he really needed from Thorne was space to expand the shop. Marc was already getting more business than he could handle. They needed more room for him to work and for their stock.